Based on a Clive Barker story that has been transplanted to Chicago by British writer/director Bernard Rose.
Candyman is part Urban Legend/Gothic Romance/Psychological Thriller/Slasher Horror. It is because Rose plays around with horror tropes to move away from being a Freddy Krueger style rip off.
Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is a graduate student researching urban myths who hears a story about the Candyman (Tony Todd.)
If you recite Candyman five times in front of a mirror, he will appear with his hooked hand. Helen starts to investigate some deaths in the Cabrini Green district which might be attributed to Candyman or it could be just local gangs.
However are some of the incidents in Helen's head as she is accused of murder or is she under some sort of spell by the Candyman. Even Helen's husband, a university professor has doubts about her sanity.
There are lots of themes explored in this film including social class and race. Some of the characters such as Helen's husband have ulterior motives. Rose goes for disturbing images rather than just purely gore.
There is a very nice opening scene as we see overhead images of traffic moving. It gives the film a hypnotic beat. However it does not always hold together well, becoming preposterous as it goes on. Tony Todd is an imposing figure as Candyman.
Candyman is part Urban Legend/Gothic Romance/Psychological Thriller/Slasher Horror. It is because Rose plays around with horror tropes to move away from being a Freddy Krueger style rip off.
Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) is a graduate student researching urban myths who hears a story about the Candyman (Tony Todd.)
If you recite Candyman five times in front of a mirror, he will appear with his hooked hand. Helen starts to investigate some deaths in the Cabrini Green district which might be attributed to Candyman or it could be just local gangs.
However are some of the incidents in Helen's head as she is accused of murder or is she under some sort of spell by the Candyman. Even Helen's husband, a university professor has doubts about her sanity.
There are lots of themes explored in this film including social class and race. Some of the characters such as Helen's husband have ulterior motives. Rose goes for disturbing images rather than just purely gore.
There is a very nice opening scene as we see overhead images of traffic moving. It gives the film a hypnotic beat. However it does not always hold together well, becoming preposterous as it goes on. Tony Todd is an imposing figure as Candyman.